queenofheartsrp | ♘ duel the eleventh. ( video. action. )

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♘ duel the eleventh. ( video. action. )

I. video.

[Utena had been scarce after the night of the fireworks - the cold did not agree with her, and even her basketball court had been abandoned for the time being. The Vine unfurls to show her using the magic dirt for something, perched in the window sill of one of the high, arching windows of her room. A piece of the Tower, here in the Gardens. It looks as if she just got back in the room - she's still dressed for the outside, with her jacket and gloves, not caring that they are covered in dirt. Her cheeks are flushed with cold.

There are birds outside of the window, a number of them, and if one listens carefully, they are singing a familiar song. Finally, Utena speaks:]

Would you cut it out? Geez. I can't even count how many snowballs I threw at all of you. [The dirt in her hands changes shape into what looks like a picture frame. Utena makes a triumphant noise, goes to place the frame with a set of others. The Vine pans in on the frames - primarily images of other teenagers with strangely colored hair, and continues to follow her, until she eventually catches sight of it.]

You might as well make yourself useful. [She kneels in front of the mirror.] Say, does anyone know how to get rid of these birds? They've been following me all day.

II. action.

[A little after Utena makes her last picture, she's headed outside again for a walk! Unfortunately, her new feathered friends are following her around too, trilling the "Happy Birthday" song. One perches on her shoulder, and she irritably waves it away.

She'll be all over the Gardens today, trying to escape the birds. Bother her! Or throw a snowball at her...or build a snowman! Or just wish her a happy birthday, that works too.]

[ooc: Utena's birthday is today, so...the birds are wishing her a happy birthday. Or maybe messing around with the magic dirt has got them following her, whichever works.]

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[Utena is grumbling under her breath, hands tucked into her pockets and walking briskly. She does not appear to be in the best of moods, to use an understatement.]

Stupid hocus pocus. [A bird flits to land on her head and sing. She sighs heavily, but seems disinclined to fight it this time. Another flutters in front of her face, and she allows it to take roost on her hand.] I guess you aren't going to leave me alone, huh? [Both birds chirp, as if in agreement.] I'm not good with pets, y'know. Not like Himemiya.

[Something changes in her expression at that, and she glances up to the sky.] Another birthday here...

[Mami listens, can't help but take in every word as she peeks around the snowman's head. It strikes her, now as much as it had before, that Utena is protective of this Himemiya....thinks about her often, worries for her well-being, misses her terribly.

It's always about Himemiya, isn't it? Always. Good, Mami thinks to herself with a strange disappointment that goes unacknowledged, that's how it should be. Utena has her own promises to keep.

The fact of her hiding here and eavesdropping suddenly strikes Mami as juvenile, embarrassing. A nasty twinge of shame enough to make her wince.....and brings her out from behind the snowman, the smile on her face calm and self-assured and nothing more than a brave effort to smother painful, conflicting feelings.]

Ah, Utena-san! It's good to see you....how have you been?

[Fortunately for Mami, Utena isn't aware she was being eavesdropped on. She greets her in the same, bright way she usually does - but there is an undertone of awkwardness about it. She's always flustered around Mami now, unsure of what to do, or to say.

The bird perched on her head flies over to take roost on top of the snowman instead.]

Hey, Mami-san! I've been all right. [She glances off to the side, digs her heel into the snow-covered path.] I thought I'd take a walk today. How are you? Is that your snowman?

[It takes an effort to not let the bird's flight provide a welcome distraction from having to maintain eye contact - or at least, to keep looking in Utena's direction.]

Oh, I've been just fine! And, mm, it is.

[She pauses, for a reason that is not a reason but rather a feeling, vague and nameless. Something about Utena's posture when she shifts to toe the ground, the lean and smooth lines of her shoulders and legs, causes a brief hiccup of distraction. Mami blinks, recovers, quickly forces the odd moment from memory.

Should the other girl take a couple steps to the side, Utena might notice that this snowman shares a remarkable resemblance with Madoka.]

....I haven't really made one before, but it turns out that it isn't that hard to figure out.

I haven't made one in a while. [She does take a couple of steps, in order to more closely observe the snowman. Her head tilts from side to side, she hums under her breath, puts a hand to her chin and taps her foot.]

Huh, it looks kinda familiar...say, are you taking a walk today too?

Ah, did you want to?

[With me? is a thought that comes and goes and is never said. Struck by the need to do something, anything other than just stand here and prop up this conversation, Mami leans down to scoop up more snow. She pats the lump into the side of the snowman's head, the shape and position giving the suggestion of pigtails.

Her fingers tremble a little. She chalks it up to the cold.]

I was, earlier. It's rather amazing that this place can look so pretty even when covered in snow, huh?

Mm, that'd be nice! [She smiles again.] What I really wanna do is make a sled, a really big one. [She pauses, and suddenly looks embarrassed.] Is that childish?

[Again, she shifts back and forth. The movement of her body seems to relax her - if she cannot control anything else, she can control this.] Yeah, it's something else...[She trails off, bites her lip, and finally blurts out:]

Hey, you know, if you wanted...it'd be nice to walk together, wouldn't it? [Before she knows it, she's continuing to talk.] It's my birthday today, and I...[I hate being alone, is the first invasive, surprising thought. It's quickly pushed away.] I was a little bored, being cooped up.

[And finally she asks outright:] Would you like to walk with me?

Childish? [She considers the question with a thoughtful hum, still sculpting the snowgirl's hair.] I don't think it matters, really; it sounds like fun. I haven't ridden on a sled in a long time.

[There's a warning prickle of goosebumps up the back of her neck, a whisper in her skull telling Mami to stay safe inside her boundary lines and say no. But ah, alas, it's far too late to heed such things; the siren call of Utena's company is too strong.]

Oh, I didn't know it was your birthday, Utena-san.....but yes, I'd like that. [Her voice trails off, lightly embarrassed, before piping up again.] Could we stop by my apartment on the way? [She searches for an excuse, finds one, delivers it smoothly.] I think I need an extra scarf, out here.

[That response appears to make her relax.] Me neither. I talked to Homura-san about it too...it'd be nice if we could all go sledding together, wouldn't it?

[She grins and rubs the back of her neck.] Honestly, I didn't know either. The birds are the ones that told me. [She nods her head, seeing nothing unusual about the request.] And yeah, we can visit your apartment. Are you ready to go?

[Together. The word causes an inexplicable shortness of breath, for just a moment, for all the wrong reasons. But Mami recovers quickly before her mask can slip again.] Yes, I certainly think so! We should try for it sometime, before the snow melts.

Mm...I am. [A final glance at her creation, and Mami nods as she takes a step toward Utena; she can sculpt the snow another time.] It's not far from here, anyway.

Great! [She is, perhaps, a little more excited about that than she should be, but she doesn't seem to notice her own enthusiasm. It's not bad to be excited about being with a friend, after all.]

Okay. [And she begins to walk! After a moment, she glances over her shoulder - both to check and see if Mami is following, and to give the snowman a final look.] Hey, is that supposed to be Madoka-chan?

[The birds are following the two girls, but they have at least stopped their birthday serenading.]

[She is indeed following, and is soon no longer trailing behind Utena but is matching her stride the best she can. Mami tucks her hands into the pockets of her light jacket; her smile is a little sheepish, but pleased all the same.]

Ah, you could tell? I must have done an okay job, in that case.

Mm, it looks a lot like her. [She smiles.] You even got the pigtails right. Are you gonna show her it before it melts?

Ah- [Mami glances off into the scenery at that.] -no, I wasn't planning on it.

[Just one more thing Madoka doesn't have to see, or know about.]

Oh, too bad. [She hooks her arms behind her head.] I bet she'd like it. Have you been out here long?

[She just hums in response at first, a low and thoughtful sound, unable and unwilling to deny that possibility - not when Madoka's the type to appreciate even the smallest efforts done for her sake.

One of the birds decides to alight on her head, cheeping softly as it hitches a ride. Another soon follows, resting on Mami's shoulder when it becomes apparent that she's not going to oust any interlopers from their perches.]

Oh, not very long....

[A slow shrug, an easy smile. She absently raises one arm to stroke the downy head of the bird on her shoulder.]

You know, seeing these birds follow you reminded me of something, Utena-san.

[Despite being annoyed by the continued presence of the birds, Utena can't help but smile while watching Mami interact with them.]

Really? What does it remind you of?

[The bird chitters, fluffs its tiny wings.]

Well, you see, awhile back....

[There's a pause as she thinks. Her forehead creases, the brows furrowing in thought, as Mami looks back over the course of months. The fact of her lengthy stay in the Gardens hardly registers anymore.]

....I don't quite remember how long ago it was, but there was a brief time when the animals here were quite taken with me. The cats, the birds, they were all very affectionate. I don't know what started it or why they suddenly stopped, though. [Because Mami never learned that it came of her wish, uttered so desperately and with such shame down in the bowels of the Labyrinth, to not be alone....a wish that was technically granted when Madoka arrived.]

Ah... [The thought makes her smile.] That sounds really cute. [She looks slightly flustered after that.] It wasn't your birthday, was it? Did something special happen?

[Another bird flutters down to land on Utena's head.] That's why these guys are bothering me today. They've been singing since I woke up.

[The comment brings a light tinge of pink to her cheeks, easily explained away as stemming from the cold.] No, I'm sure it happened quite awhile before then! And I don't think anything "special" happened...

[Mami wouldn't use that word to describe what had come before the sudden display of camaraderie from the animals, the terror and horrific sights the Labyrinth had put her through.

She watches the bird roost on Utena's head, smiling a little herself.]

I guess it's different for everyone; they didn't do the same for me, at least.

[Utena seems full of energy - she jogs forward a few steps, slows her pace to allow Mami to catch up, stretches her arms in front of her head. Throughout this, the bird manages to keep its precarious position atop her head, though there are a few angry cheeps.]

You had a birthday already? [When she tilts her head to regard Mami, the little bird does the same.] When was it?

[Mami keeps her pace steady, her stride measured and composed. The smile grows bigger by inches, warmer by degrees.]

Ah, well.... [She trails off for a moment in favor of giving the bird on her shoulder another pet.] Do you remember when there was that fair, with all the rides and games?

[She has to think about it, but eventually she remembers.] Yeah, I remember...it was that day? Aw, man. I didn't get you a gift!

[There had been the stuffed toy she'd won playing one of the games, but it seems like such a small thing that it doesn't cross her mind.]

Oh, don't feel bad. It's not as if you could have known - I never said anything.

[To anyone.]

Besides, you did get me something. [Her small, subtle blush doesn't fade.] That stuffed bird, remember?

Stuffed bird? [It takes her a little while to remember, but her eyes light up as soon as she does.] Right, I remember that. [A sheepish grin.] I'm glad you kept it.

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